High speed flat knitting machine



March 4, 1941. DERI ETAL 2,233,664

HIGH SPEED FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8?56 w k8 85 a 36 27 6 s5 1 a g6 March 4, 1941. B. DER! EITAL 2,233,664

HIGH SPEED FLAT KNITTING MACHINE 2 Shees-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1940 QMINVENTORS Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES HIGH SPEED FLAT KNITTINGMACHINE r Bruno Derl, Brooklyn, and Sebastian Gangi, New York, N. Y.

Q 1 Application May 25, 1940, Serial No. 337,120

12 Claim.

This invention relates to flat knitting machines of the type disclosedin our patent application, Serial No. 276,954, filed June 2, 1939, forFlat knitting looms.

3 One object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed which shall be capable of knitting the usual commercialpatterns with pattern chains only a small fractional part of the lengthof those heretofore re- 10 quired.

In constructing a machine for knitting a comparatively extensivepattern, we found that the pattern chains would have to be so large asto become a serious factor in the construction and :5 operation of themachine. We thereupon percelved that it would be highly desirable tofind a way of knitting the pattern with the use of a much shorterchain.' The results finally attained greatly exceeded our expectations,in that we 20 are able to use pattern chains which are so much shorterand hence have so much less mass than those previously required.

By greatly reducing the number of links in the pattern chains, the timefor setting up a 25 machine for the knitting of a new pattern may bereduced from several days to only a day or a day and a half, savinglabor and diminishing the time of enforced idleness of the machine.

f much greater importance is the fact that 30 as a result of thusgreatly reducing the weight of the pattern chains, their momenta andhence the vibrational effects due to reciprocation or oscillatory motionof the pattern chains become relatively negligible. Hence the speed ofthe 35 machine may. be doubled or otherwise greatly increased, thussubstantially diminishing the cost of the knitted fabric. Accordingly aprincipal obstacle against the speed-up of such a machine is eliminated.

A related advantage and object of the invention is to provide a machinehaving improved means whereby the pattern chainsmay travel at half thespeed formerly required, during reciprocation, to thus reducevibrational effects, and nevertheless to permit the machine to do thesame work and with the same flexibility of design. 1

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a machine havingimproved means for the realization of the foregoing advantages.

Machines of the class herein alluded to were operated to lay the weftyarns in opposite or cross directions to produce a greater density offilling to thus obtain a better design and a superior fabric. Thisnecessitated movement of (c1. se-ss) the pattern chains in oppositedirections. We have overcome this limitation in order to secure theadvantages hereinbefore noted, and nevertheless provide the cross-weftfabric.

Another object, therefore, is the provision of an improved means andmethod of operating a machine to achieve the advantages noted.

In the setting up of the machine, the pins for the pattern chain linkshad to be properly placed, and there had to be suflicient pins todirectly actuate each weft carrier rod that was to be moved for eachcourse of the machine. Aside from the weight added by the pins to thepattern chains, the labor of removing and resetting the same wasconsiderable.

The invention therefore provides a machine having improved means wherebythe number of pattern chain pins is cut in half.

It is to be considered that in accordance with the present invention,the number of pattern chain links may be reduced to one-fifth oronetenth of the number heretofore required, so that the number of linkpins is correspondingly decreased. The number of link pins so reducedmay now be out in half, according to the present invention; and it is anobject of the invention to realize this advantage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novelcombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in theirpreferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, andillustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein like parts are designatedby the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing a machine embodying theinvention. with parts removed and parts in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view thereof with parts insection.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary viewin end elevation of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in elevation showing details of constructionshown in Fig. 2. I

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the pattern chain drive.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fabric knitted by the said machine.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized whenall of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the 65ferred exemplification of the invention.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the artto which the inventionappertains, that the same may be incorporated in several differentconstructions. The accompanying drawings, therefore, are submittedmerely as showing the pre- Generally described, the invention provides aknitting machine and method of operating the same whereby a link orlengthwise movement of the pattern chains is effected only when there isa change in apattern section; in other words, during intermediatecourses or stitches, the same link of each pattern chain continues tocause the longitudinal movement of the weft carrying rods. Hence if adesign consists, for example, of seven rectangles of different widthsalong the weft, comprising atotal of seventy stitches, only seven linksare required in each chain,'whereas formerly seventy were required, onefor each stitch. For this purpose the pattern control devices whichcontrol the link movement of the pattern chains are coordinated with theother parts of the machine to cause a link to move to an operativeposition only when the width of a pattern section is to be changed; ofcourse the length of a pattern section may be anything desired,according to the setting of the said pattern control devices. To renderthe foregoing operable, the reciprocation or oscillation of the patternchains must be such that on any movement, both of them movesimultaneously in the same direction. In view of this desideratum,pattern control devices must be provided individual to the differentpattern chains. The reason for this requirement is that the differentpattern chains do not have their link movements simultaneously since thereciprocatory movement of the chains is in the same direction asaforesaid. More specifically, when there is a change of pattern, onepattern chain is caused to have a link motion as it moves away from theweft carrier rods and then, upon the next course, the

other pattern chain is caused to have a link movement as it moves awayfrom the weft carrler rods. The reason; why the pattern chains havetheir simultaneous traverse in like direction is that there shall alwaysbe a chain link available for actuating the weft carrier rods. If thepattern chains were to move in opposite directions, as heretofore, afterthey had advanced their respective rods, the latter would remain idle,and the reciprocation of the chains would cause no further actuation ofsaid rods, at least not until the pattern chains had been moved to adifferent setting by the pattern control devices. The latter may havelike settings, but their settings may be different from each other toproduce de sign variations. By directly interconnecting adjacent weftcarrier rods, as in pairs, the number of pins can be cut in half, sincea rod actuated by a pin of one chain causes a movement in oppositedirection by the companion rod; then the latter is actuated for reversemovement by a pin carried by the other chain and in turn moves theadjacent rod in opposite direction. By this movement of the rods inopposite directions the weft yarns are laid in crossed relation to eachother in the same manner as heretofore accomplished by moving thepattern chains in opposite directions as hereinbefore mentioned.Accordingly it is seen that the conventional fabric, characterized by acrossed arrangement of the filling in weft yarns can be obtained eventhough the pattern chains are bodily moved in the same direction, a

result heretofore impossible; and consequently all the importantadvantages herein stated can be obtained, without in any way impairingthe utility of the machine, and on the contrary, increasing its speedand its scope and saving labor and time in the use of the machine.

Referringin detail to the drawings, M denotes a flat knitting machineembodying the invention. The same may comprise a frame ii supporting aneedle bed l2 and having end frame sections The latter may rigidly carryvertically reciprocable plates I having vertical parallel slots l 5 forslidably carrying a series of rods it. These rods it are longitudinallyreciprocable in parallel relation to the needle bed i2. 'I'o affordsupport for these rods iiat intermediate points so as to avoiddeflection due to the weight thereof, we

may provide a bridge l'l extending longitudinally of the machine andmounted on the end plate sections ll. Secured to this bridge is abracket i8 slidably carrying a series of inverted U-shaped frame membersI! whose lower ends are fixed to the rods IS. The detailed structure ofthe elements i8 and- I! may be like that shown in our co-pendingapplication Serial No. 276,954,'here-'- ciprocable cross heads 25.Carried by the latter v at each end of the machine is a transverse shaft26 on each of which are fixed a pair of sprocket wheels 21 for a patternchain 28. Each pattern chain comprises a series of links 29, each ofwhich may settably carry a number of removable pins 30 for engaging theends of certain of the adjacent rods i6 in parallel relation therewith.Suitable means, hereinafter described, may be used to cause bodilyreciprocation of the pattern chains 28, and intermittentlongitudinaltravelthereof to move successive links to the operativerelation described. As thus far disclosed, the machine may besubstantially like that shown in our said copending application, SerialNo.

The present invention aims to greatly shorten the length of the patternchains 28 and hence the mass and momentum thereof upon reciprocation ofthese chains. Consequently the vibration caused by such reciprocationcan be correspondingly reduced, and hence the speed of the machine canbe greatly increased. Further, the i time and labor involved in settingup the machine for knitting a particular pattern is substantiallydiminished, and .the period of idleness of the machine is thus verymaterially reduced.

The invention also aims to provide that each pattern chain shall makeonly one-half of a reciprocation during each stitch or course of themachine, instead of making a complete reciproca tion for each stitch orcourse of the machine as heretofore. Thus the speed of knitting can besubstantially increased for this additional reason, without causingobjectionable vibration.

The principle involved may be readily explained by reference to Fig. 6,which illustrates a typical pattern made by machines of this generalclass. The fabric3i comprises a pattern 32 of a stepped design. It willbe noted that there are seven rectangular sections, including a centralsection 33 and successive and sections 64, 36, I6. Certain of thesections may be of like width lengthwise of the filling, but this isimmaterial. Likewise, certain of the sections may be of a lengthdifferent than that of other sections; this is likewise immaterial,being controlled by the longitudinal or link movement of the patternchains. The principle of the invention involves the use of a single linkin each pattern chain for causing the knitting of any one of thesections. Assume that ten stitches or courses are required to knit onesection; heretofore ten links were necessary be-- cause a different linkwas required for each course; but with the present invention only onelink is sumcient for the section. In other words, if there are a totalof seventy courses for the pattern, the total number of links heretoforerequired for each chain was seventy, but this number is now reduced toone-tenth as many links for each pattern chain for this particular pattern. A change in setting, with the presentation of a. different link isnecessary only when there is a change in the pattern sections, as in thetransition from section 35 to section 36.

Accordingly the pattern chains 28 represent chains that are much shorterthan any heretofore required in the usual use of the machine.

To accomplish the purposes stated, we cause bodily reciprocation of thepattern chains 28 such that they both travel in like direction, in otherwords, they travel simultaneously to the left, For thi purpose, theusual drive may be used, modified only by a different direction ofrotation of a gear or gears. We may use the conventional eccentrics,including a shaft 31 mounted on the bracket arms 23 and fixedly carryinga disc 38 pivotally connected at 39 to an adjustable connecting rodmeans 40 which is pivotally connected at 4i to an extension 42 of thecross head 25. It will be perceived in Fig. 1 that the pivotalconnections 39 at the different ends of the machine are advanced in likedirection, and that the pattern chain at the left has moved toward themachine while that at the right has moved away from the machine, sinceboth pattern chains travel in like direction.

In Fig. is shown diagrammatically any suitable drive for actuating theeccentrics. Thus, the shafts 37 for the different pattern chains maycarry bevel gears 43 engaging bevel gears 44 of a shaft 45 which mayextend lengthwise of the machine, and which may be driven by anysuitable source of power at 46. Heretofore the pattern chains had alwaysbeen driven in opposite directions, but so great was their mass andmomentum that the opposite effects thereof did not avoid excessivevibration of the machine unless the speed thereof was relatively low.

By reason of the movement of the pattern chains 28 in like direction,the change in link setting thereof occurs at different times. This isdue to the fact that each shaft 26 has affixed thereon a toothed memberor ratchet 41 having a series of teeth 46 which may be spaced 90 degreesapart, these teeth being engageable by a hook member 49 which is movableinto and out of engaging position. Accordingly, the pattern chain at theleft receives a link motion only when it travels toward the left. Withthe use of eccentric discs 38, the difference in timing is thus 180degrees, since both chains travel in like direction and are accordinglysuccessively moved by the hook members 49.

By reason of this difference in timing it is not possible tointerconnect the hook members 49, but rather these members must beoperated by individual pattern control devices 50. Heretofore only onesuch device was provided on a machine, for controlling both hookmembers. The need for an infinite setting for pattern designs requireswith the present invention that two of the control devices 50 shall beused.

Each of the control devices 50 is substantially like that disclosed inour copending patent application Serial No. 276,954, except ashereinafter described. Both control devices 50 may be set for likeconditions, but it is possible that they may also receive differentindividual settings for a further variation of pattern,

Each pattern control device 50 may actuate a roller 5| of an arm 52pivotally mounted at its lower end at 53 on a bracket arm 54 of a framemember l3. Pivotally connected at 55 at the upper end of the arm 52 is arod 56 which may have pivotal engagement at 51 with a head 58 that isslidable in a grooved member 59 carried by a-section 60 of the frame l3.Said head 58 may be retained in the grooved member as by a pin and slotconnection at 6|. Urging the head 58 toward the left in Fig. 3 is anexpansion coil spring 62. Formed on the upper side of the head 58 is acam surface 63 disposed adjacent to the pivotal connection 64 for thehook 49, on the frame section 60. The arrangement is such that the cam63 underlies the hook so that when the head 58 is moved toward theright, as shown in Fig. 3, the cam 63 swings the hook upward so that itlies above the teeth 48 as shown at the right of Fig. 1. In thatposition, the hook will not engage the teeth 46, and hence the patternchain setting will remain the same. But when the cam 63 is moved towardthe left, the hook 49 drops gravitationally so as to be in the path ofthe teeth 68 as shown at the left in Fig. 1 to cause a change in linksetting when the pattern chain moves leftward. It will be noted that thehook 49 need not move lengthwise of its pivot 64 as heretofore, and thata reversing element for the ratchet wheel 41 as heretofore required, ishere unnecessary.

For actuating the arm 52, the pattern, control device 50 which may havetwice as many teeth as heretofore, if desired, so as to be adapted toactuate the hook 49 upon a single course of the machine instead of upontwo courses as heretofore. Previously it was possible to change thepattern only upon an even course of the machine; now the change can bemade upon an odd course or upon an even course, affording greaterflexibility of pattern design. This result is made possible by the useof two control devices 56, so that the cam wheel 65 may be changed asstated.

.Briefly described, each pattern control device 50 may have a shaft 66on which the cam wheel is journaled, this shaft being mounted on a U-shaped bracket 61 carried by the frame i3. Mounted on said shaft are aplurality of ratchet wheels 66, one of which is afllxed to said shaftand the other is an idler to which the cam wheel 65 is aflixed. Pawls 69cooperate with the different ratchet wheels, these pawls being mountedfor individual tilting motion about a common axis, and being springpressed toward their respective ratchet wheels by any suitable means(not shown). The shaft forming the pawl axis is carried by a verticalslide member ll guided in the frame member 54, and being verticallymoved by a cam 12 on the shaft 67. Afiixed to engageable with a camfinger I'I carried by an adjustable arm I8 which is pressed toward thesprocket wheel I! by any suitable sprin (not shown). Fixed on the arm 19is a pin 19 which normally underlies one of the pawls 69 so as to movethe latter away from its ratchet wheel 98 when the arm 18 is moved byengagement of a pin 19 with the finger II.

On each reciprocation of the bar II by the cam 12, the pawls 69 arereciprocated, and one of the ratchet wheels 68 is turned one tooth tocorrespondingly move the shaft 99 aifixed thereto and hence the sprocketwheel 13. If the pins 16 are remote from the finger II, the pins I9 willlie' in the path of one of said pawls and prevent it from oscillatingtoward its ratchet wheel 99, so that the latter and its cam wheel llwill be stationary. But if a pin 16 engages the finger II, the pin 19 ismoved away from the path of its pawl 69, at an undercut in the latter,and

hence said pawl engages its 'ratchet wheel 99', so that the latter, andthe cam wheel 65 are rotated to adegree equal to that of the otherratchet wheel 68. The spacing of the pins 18 is of course adjustedaccording to the pattern to be knitted.

According to the present invention, substantially fewer pins 16 arerequired, because the,

movement of the hooks 49 is relatively infrequent. The present device 50also utilizes a cam tooth for every course of the machine. In theposition shown in Fig. 3, a lobe of the cam wheel 85 has moved the rod56 toward the right to elevate the hook 49. When the roller is receivedbetween a pair of lobes, the spring 62 causes an opposite movement ofthe cam 63 and rod 56, so that the hook 49 drops into position to engagethe ratchet wheel 47 to cause another link 29 to be moved to operativeposition. In other respects the operation of the device 50 isconventional.

It will now be clear that the different control devices 50 can operatethe hooks 49 at different times, so that link motion of the patternchains 28 can successively occur while said chains are being bodilymoved in like direction, first to the a novel means interconnecting aplurality of .the

rods it so that a movement of one of the rods causes a movement of theother rod especially in an opposite direction. This principle isespecially applicable in knitting a fabric wherein the weft yarns B0cross each other as shown in Fig. 6. In fact, machines of the classherein alluded to are generally constructed to knit in this manner, andhence utilize oppositely moving pattern chains. Therefore the highdegree of utility and novelty herein involved may be appreciated asidefrom the fact that the number of pins 30 can be cut in half,-thisinvention permitting a great re- 'duction in the size of the patternchains with the advantages already pointed out, and neverthelesspermitting accomplishment of all the functions of the weft crossingmachine, and greater flexibility of design than the latter possessed.

The terms such as weft crossing and crossed weft are used herein todenote that condition according to which the weft is laid in differentpaths, which are-of relatively opposite zig-zag character aswill beobvious from the conventional machines, in which different weft yarnsare laid in opposite directions simultaneously to produce a greaterfilling density.

One possible form of interconnection may consist in a fiexible meansnear each end of the rods ll, said flexible means utilizing reversingelements such as pulleys. Thus a steel band 9| may pass around a pulley92 mounted on a fixed stub shaft 83, said bands being connected at theirends to difierent adjacent rods ll. Desirably the rods I are preventedfrom accidental rotation by providing a supplemental guide rod 94connected to its rod I by end arms 9!, 99 to thus provide a guidestructure extended along a plane and being slidably fitted in'the slotsI! of the frame plates l4. Accordingly the ends of the steel bands 8|may be connected to adjacent arms 98, whereas the pulley stub shafts maybe fixedly mounted on an angle bar 81 which may be suitably secured tothe plate l4. Incidentally, the arms 96 may afiord enlarged faces forimpact by the pattern chain pins 30.

It will now be apparent that with the six rods It shown, the same areinterconnected in three pairs, .the rodsof each pair being equallymovable simultaneously in opposite directions. Hence a single pin III atone end of the machine will cause movement of a pair of rods I inopposite directions; a single pin at the other end of the machine willcause reverse movement of the two rods IS in opposite directions. Itwill also be apparent that if the steel bands III were not used, itwould be impossible to cause simultaneous movement of the rods I inopposite directions for laying the weft yarns in crossed relation, sincethe pattern chains move in like disaid frame also carrying at itsopposite ends reciprocatory means having pattern chains adapted for linkmovement in course of the reciprocation for causing traverse of the rodsto thus control the knitted pattern, an individual pattern control meansfor the link movement of each pattern chain, drive means for causingsimultaneous movement of both reciprocatory means solely in likedirection, including actuator means coacting with the said individualpattern control means to cause the link movement of one chain to to theneedles upon each traverse of the rods,

occur at a different time than that of the other chain, with the controlmeans having elements so spaced as to cause link movement of the pattern chains only after the formation of a. series of stitches, wherebyeach pattern chain may individual pattern control means for thedifferent chains for controlling the link movement of the chains, saidpattern control means. having means settable for causing a link movementof the said chains upon one traverse or upon a series of traverses ofcertain of said rods, and drive means to cause reciprocation of thepattern chains and to actuate the pattern control means in course ofknitting so that both pat ern chains shall move in like direction withthe link movement of one pattern chain occurring upon a movement of saidchain in one direction and a link movement of the other pattern chainoccurring upon a movement of said other chain in the opposite direction,and both chains being adapted to be free of link movement in-theintervals during which a series of stitches can be formed.

3. In a flat knitting machine having a needle bed and a plurality ofparallel individually longitudinally reciprocable rods for feeding weftyarns to the needles in response to the pin carrying links of patternchains reciprocably carried at each end of the needle bed, thecombination of individual pattern control means for the different chainsfor controlling the link movement of the chains, said pattern controlmeans having means for causing a link movement of said chains after aseries of traverses of the said rods and being settable for causing alink movement after a different series of traverses of said rods, anddrive means to cause simultaneous reciprocation of the pattern chainsmoving in like direction, whereby the number of links in said patternchains can be greatly reduced thus substantially eliminating vibrationaleffects due to the reciprocation of pattern chains.

4. In a flat knitting machine having a needle bed and a plurality ofparallel longitudinally reciprocable weft carrying rods actuated by thepin links of end pattern chains capable of link movement and bodilyreciprocating movement, the combination of a pair of said rods and meansinterconnecting the said rods so that a longitudinal movement of one ofthe rods in one direction causes a movement of the other rod in theopposite direction, said means being operative upon any direction ofmovement so that only one of the rods need be actuated by a patternchain.

5. In a flat knitting machine having a needle bed and a plurality ofparallel longitudinally reciprocable weft carrying rods actuated by thepin links of end pattern chains capable of link movement and bodilyreciprocatory movement, the combination of a pair of said rods and meansinterconnecting the said rods so that a longitudinal movement of one ofthe rods in one direction causes a movement of the other rod in theopposite direction, said means being operative upon any direction ofmovement so that'only one of the rods need be actuated by a patternchain, and said means including flexible means and reversing guideelements therefor so that a movement of one rod causes a movement oflike extent of the other rod.

6. A flat knitting machine for the knitting of patterns, including aframe carrying a needle bed and a, plurality of parallel longitudinallymovable rods for causing the feeding of weft yarns to the needles uponeach traverse of the rods, said frame also carrying at its opposite endsreciprocatory means having pattern chains adapted for link movement incourse of the reciprocation for causing traverse of the rods to thuscontrol the knitted pattern, an individual pattern control means for thelink movement of each pattern chain, drive means for causingsimultaneous movement of both reciprocatory means solely in likedirections, including actuator means coacting with the said individualpattern control means to cause the link movement of one chain to occurat a different time than that of the other chain, with the control meanshaving elements so spaced as to cause link movement of the patternchains only after the formation of a series of stitches, and meansdirectly interconnecting certain of said rods in groups for simultaneousmovement of the rods of each group in opposite directions, so that onlyone of the rods of each groupneed be directly actuated by a patternchain link.

7. In a flat knitting machine having a needle bed and a plurality ofparallel longitudinally reciprocable weft carrying rods actuated by thepin links of end pattern chains capable of link movement and bodilyreciprocating movement, the combination of a pair of said rods and meansinterconnecting the said rods so that a longitudinal movement of one ofthe rods in one direction causes a movement of the other rod in theopposite direction, said means being operative upon any direction ofmovement so that only one of the rods need be actuated by a patternchain, pattern chains for actuating selected rods, and means for causingreciprocatory movement of the pattern chains such that both of thechains are caused to simultaneously move in the same direction.

8. A flat knitting machine of the type having parallel, longitudinallyreciprocable weft carrier rods extending along the needle bed andactuable by bodily reciprocable end chains adapted for link movement toadvance successive pin carrying links, said machine having means forcausing simultaneous bodily movement of said end chains in likedirections, and pattern control devices for the individual chains havingmeans so timed as to cause successive link movements of the differentchains upon directly successive bodily movements of the chains indifferent directions.

9. A flat knitting machine of the type having parallel, longitudinallyreciprocable weft carrier rods extending along the needle bed andactuable by bodily reciprocable end chains adapted for link movement toadvance successive pin carrying links, said machine having means forcausing simultaneous bodily movement of said end chains in likedirections, and pattern control devices for the individual chains havingmeans so timed as to cause successive link movements of the differentchains upon directly successive bodily movements of the chains indifferent directions, the timed means of each device including anintermittently rotating cam, and the cams of the different devices beingso rotatable in successive relation to each other.

10, A flat knitting machine of the type having parallel, longitudinallyreciprocable weft carrier rods extending along the needle bed andactuable by bodily reciprocable end chains adapted for link movement toadvance successive pin carrying links, said machine having means forcausing simultaneous bodily movement of said end chains in likedirections, and pattern control devices for the individual chains havingmeans so timed as to cause successive link movements of the differentchains upon directly successive bodily movements of the chains indifferent directions, said devices having other means so timed as tocause successive bodily movements of the chains in different directionsonly after each of said chains have performed a series of said bodilymovements.

11. The herein described method of operating a flat knitting machinehaving a plurality of iongitudinally movable welt carrier rods parallelto the needle bed and actuabie by end pattern chains bodily movable andsettably movable lengthwise to present difierent pin carrying links forcausing traverse of said rods with the lengthwise movement of thepattern chains controlled by a pattern cam means, including causingbodily movement of the said chains simultaneously in like directions,maintaining a set position 0! the chains during the knitting of a seriesof courses, and thereafter causing a lengthwise setting movement flrstof one and then of the other chain upon coursesthat directly succeedeach other.

12. In a flat knitting machine having a needle bed and a plurality ofparallel individually longitudinally reciprocable rods for feeding weftyarns to the needles in response to the Pin carrying links of patternchains reciprocably carried at each end of the needle bed, thecombination with said pattern chains, means for causing reciprocatorymovement thereoi so that said pattern chains travel simultaneously inthe same direction, and individual pattern control means for thelongitudinal movement of the different chains so as to cause saidmovements at dlflerent times in bringing the links thereof intooperative po- BRUNO DERI. SEBASTIAN GAN GI.

